CENTREVILLE — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus unveiled the fourth and final pillar guiding its agenda to eliminate systemic racism Friday during a press conference at Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville.

The Black Caucus will focus their efforts on ending disparities in health care and human services, ILBC Chairman Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) announced.

Lightford said racism remains a major factor in the health of African Americans and their access to quality, affordable care.

“Discrimination within our institutions is killing Black people in Illinois,” Lightford said. “The vast disparities in medical care and other vital services in the Black communities have never been more apparent than they are right now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. African Americans have been infected at disproportionately higher rates because systemic racism has left us in the worst position to respond, lacking proper health care, income and housing, among other factors. The Black Caucus will not stop fighting until our government not only supports Black life, but provides an environment for Black Illinoisans to thrive in society.”

SPRINGFIELD – In honor of National Farmers Day on October 12, Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) are celebrating the hard work and dedication of local farmers and agricultural workers.

“Farmers are passionate about the work they do, and this day is an opportunity to acknowledge the work of the men and women devoted to feeding our community,” said Bennett, who spends the harvest season helping out on his family's farm in Gibson City. “This is the perfect time to thank farmers young and old, past and present."

On this day, Bennett and Joyce are encouraging people to show gratitude to farmers by supporting local farmers’ markets or making charitable donations to area farms.

MARYVILLE – With the $67 million reconstruction project on Interstate 255 nearing completion, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) are alerting residents of a new road project slated to begin early next year in the Metro East.

“By investing in our local infrastructure, our state is committing to the transportation needs of Metro East residents,” Crowe said. “Ensuring reliable transportation for seniors, working families and students, all while creating construction jobs, is a start to getting our local economies back on track.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has released plans to resurface Illinois Route 157 starting on State Street in East St. Louis and ending on Petroff Drive in Caseyville.

CHAMPAIGN — To prevent fatalities on the farm during the busy harvest season, Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture in reminding farmers and farm workers to be cautious when working in and around grain bins.

“Grain handling is always a high-hazard undertaking for farm workers,” Bennett said. “Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds, because moving grain acts like quicksand. If you must go inside a grain bin, make sure you take the proper safety precautions to prevent an accident or injury.”

ROCKFORD — As parents continue to return to in-office work, they’re relying on child care providers more than ever. At the same time, many of those providers struggling to keep afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is urging Rockford area child care providers facing financial struggles due to COVID-19 to apply for the next round of Business Interruption Grants to help them remain open and provide more options for parents.

“An unprecedented number of parents are looking for child care providers with so many students doing hybrid or remote learning. Unfortunately, these providers were some of the hardest hit businesses due to the pandemic.” Stadelman said. “Now, their demand is higher than ever, which is why I’m urging providers to apply for these grants. They need to keep their doors open, and parents need safe places to take their kids.”

DECATUR – Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) demonstrated their commitment to the success of the City of Decatur by taking an afternoon tour of several local businesses and social service centers yesterday.

Manar, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Appropriations II Committee and a lead budget negotiator for the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, emphasized the importance of providing support to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

“Throughout the day, we saw firsthand the value provided to Decatur by the vibrant local business and social service communities, but we also saw the immense difficulty COVID-19 has caused them,” Manar said. “I’m thankful for the partnership of Lt. Gov. Stratton, who understands the need for long-term, equitable solutions in our communities.”

PEORIA – In a letter to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) urged an investigation into the Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak at the UAW Senior Citizen Center housing facility in Pekin.

“People at the UAW center are now living with the threat of two infectious diseases circulating in their home,” Koehler said. “This matter could spiral out of control quickly, and coupled with COVID-19 infection, it would be a disaster for the folks residing at this facility. I look forward to working alongside the IDPH, their team, and the building’s management to implement measures to address the disease.”

At the present time, residents of the 215 apartments in the facility are unable to use faucets, leaving them with filtered showerheads as their only source of water.

To follow up the letter to the IDPH, Koehler, along with his wife Nora Sullivan, matched a Salvation Army donation of 215 cases of bottled water for those impacted by the outbreak. Area residents can also assist their neighbors by dropping off water donations to the facility at 444 S. Parkway Dr., Pekin, Illinois 61554.

WOOD RIVER – Following weeks of stricter COVID-19 guidelines in an effort to mitigate the virus in the Metro East, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is pleased local restaurants will be able to return to normal rules under Stage 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan.

“Our small businesses were the hit the hardest by this mitigation plan,” Crowe said. “Because of the commitment by the people of the Metro East to mask up and practice social distancing, these businesses will be able to return to operating how they were before the spike in cases.”

According to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Region Four has continued to move in the right direction – resulting in a positivity rate below 6.5% for three days. The benchmark hit Friday allows the region to remove its additional mitigation rules at 5 p.m.

“I want to thank every community member who helped us get to this point,” Crowe said. “But, remember, it’s still important to continue to mask up. Though we all wish it was, the COVID-19 outbreak is not over yet.”